Chapter 33: The Heart-Piercing Scum

Mother Gui looked at Tantai Jing, and upon seeing her gentle gaze, the stinging words she meant to utter became lodged in her throat.

Tantai Jing smiled and shook her head, then nodded at Mother Gui with a firm expression.

Mother Gui sighed, understanding the Third Young Lady's intent. She was telling her that she wanted the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the reality of the situation.

After some deliberation and a glance at Nanny Jiang, Mother Gui finally replied truthfully: "The Third Young Lady asked me to investigate the rumors circulating outside, and I have done so..."

"The entire city of Zecheng is saying that the Third Young Lady was once deeply in love with Master Wang. They claim that after her accident, when she fell into the water and became mute, she lost heart and refused to be with him anymore, even going so far as to degrade herself by seeking to become a concubine for a high-ranking official in the capital. They say Master Wang’s devotion remains unshaken, that he waits for her despite her loss of speech, and that the Fifth Young Lady, out of deep sisterly affection, has willingly stepped in to take her place beside him." Mother Gui looked at Nanny Jiang and added with profound meaning, "The Tantai estate has become the hottest topic in Zecheng."

Tantai Jing remained noncommittal. She had long guessed that Lady Ye would not be content to let things lie, and she knew the scene at the school gate that day could not be easily swept under the rug. Even though her father was the prefect, and even though he had already issued warnings, they could not stop the power of public opinion, which could melt gold and destroy reputations!

Now, she was painted as the loose maiden who had secretly engaged with a commoner scholar, and the fallen woman who, unable to secure the status of a legitimate wife for an official, was willing to be a mere concubine. Wang Ziyu was the devoted, steadfast suitor, and the Fifth Young Lady, Tantai Xuan, was the protective, virtuous sister.

In this scenario, the only one who lost was herself.

Tantai Jing could not help but admire Lady Ye's methods. To orchestrate this in less than two days was no small feat. Lady Ye was clever. Yesterday, Tantai Jing had pressured her father regarding his career prospects by bringing up that distant relative of the Dong family—a capital official of higher rank than her father. Her father would certainly not let Lady Ye off the hook for that.

Lady Ye had awakened quickly; for instance, the rumors now contained no mention of the Fourth-Ranked Commander of the Qianniu Guard, nor of the specific official she had allegedly intended to serve as a concubine.

Ma Yuantong had spent several hours in line today, and he was shocked to find that in such a short time, the rumors in Zecheng had already spread like wildfire. How could the innocent Third Young Lady Tantai be treated this way?

She had accidentally fallen into the water, once a gentle soul as pure as jade, and now that she had lost her voice, she was met not with her parents' love, but with basins of filth, as if they were determined to drag her into the mire and ensure she could never rise again.

Tantai Jing nodded gently. She said nothing more, simply signaling to Ma Yuantong with a slight inclination of her head before asking Nanny Jiang to see him out.

Ma Yuantong looked back three times as he left, watching the pale yellow figure disappear. He felt a hollowness in his heart. The Third Young Lady had helped him when he was at his most lost and confused; he felt he must do something for her in return.

He secretly resolved that he would help the Third Young Lady overcome this crisis.

After leaving the estate, Ma Yuantong went straight back to the academy. Wang Ziyu must be in the dormitory; he was the one who had started this. Only if Wang Ziyu came forward to clarify the truth would there be any chance of turning the situation around.

It was nearly dusk when Ma Yuantong returned to the academy. The scorching heat had caused classes to end early. Seeing that Wang Ziyu’s door was slightly ajar, he knocked and walked in.

Wang Ziyu had stood for over three hours under the blazing sun, suffering from heatstroke, and was now resting on his couch, calculating the affairs of the Tantai estate.

Thinking of the power of the Dong family, Wang Ziyu instinctively felt he should stop provoking Tantai Jing. The two slaps he had received from her were definitely not staged; her feelings toward him had changed. If he continued to force the issue, he feared he would end up with nothing. But the Fifth Young Lady was different...

As Wang Ziyu was pondering this, Ma Yuantong entered. Seeing Wang Ziyu lying on the couch with his legs crossed, Ma Yuantong frowned slightly. Sometimes, he couldn't blame the noble ladies for looking down on scholars from humble backgrounds; one's upbringing determined one's manners. A young master from a prominent family would never behave like this.

Wang Ziyu had not had time to correct his posture before his guest was revealed to be Ma Yuantong. He breathed a sigh of relief; Ma Yuantong was also from a humble background and was accustomed to such rustic behavior.

"Why didn't you wait for me to bid you enter before coming in?" Wang Ziyu asked unpleasantly.

Ma Yuantong turned away, refusing to look at Wang Ziyu’s posture, and said in a low voice, "You have caused a storm across the city involving the Third and Fifth Young Ladies of the Tantai family. As a man, you really should come forward and explain. How can you let two young ladies bear such reputations for your sake?"

Wang Ziyu, not expecting this from Ma Yuantong, was stunned for a moment before a knowing, mocking smile appeared on his face. "I thought you were a bookworm, but it seems you care about such things. You mean the Third Young Lady, Tantai Jing, right? I should have known—you are in love with her too!"

Ma Yuantong was annoyed, unsure if it was because of Wang Ziyu’s words or because he had been compared to him. He flicked his sleeves and said, "I do not have your devious mind, Ziyu. I was merely offering a word of advice. Your current behavior is truly unbecoming of a gentleman!"

"A gentleman?" Wang Ziyu stood up, glanced out the diamond-shaped window—classes were over and there was no one else around—and spoke bluntly. "What kind of people do you think we are? Are we young masters from prominent families? We are just poor men fighting to get ahead! What use is the 'conduct of a gentleman' to us? We should be worrying about whether we'll have enough to eat or wear when winter comes and there is no charity! Don't think that because you read a few books here, you can compare yourself to those real noble sons!"

"And don't act so righteous! I know you are jealous that I have gained the favor of the two ladies of the Tantai family. Now that the Third Young Lady has slapped me twice, you think you have a chance again! Don't try that with me! I tell you this: if I, Wang Ziyu, cannot have the Third Young Lady, don't you dare think you can either."

Wang Ziyu was gritting his teeth in anger. The humiliation of standing for three hours that morning fueled his resentment: "If I cannot have her, then no one in Zecheng will. I want to see who else would dare marry her after she has been linked to me. I will make sure she remains an old spinster in Zecheng forever, never to be wed!"